A court in the southern province of Kien Giang on Wednesday handed down jail terms of up to six years to 10 former customs officers for tax refund violations that caused losses of more than VND92 billion (US$4.12 million).

Vo Van Toan, former head of Giang Thanh Border Gate Customs, got the heaviest term, the court ruled at the end of the three-day trial.

Toan and nine other officers did not conduct thorough checking when they granted the tax refund amount to two local businessmen, Tran Huu Tho and Huynh Van Trong, between 2010 and 2013.

In October 2015, Tho was sentenced to life in prison and Trong received 18 years on swindling charges.

The court on Wednesday also requested Kien Giang police to launch an investigation to clarify if there are other customs officers who should be held responsible.